Tag: change

Be the One

Our church is in the final week of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We meet at 6a weekdays and at 9a on Saturdays.

The focus today was to intercede for the Church. We welcomed two churches from Ecuador who were joining us online. Ecuador! Amazon Jungle?!?! How bizarre is that?

A friend texted and asked how do churches in the Amazon find out about 21 Days?

Someone told them.

The same way that I heard about Jesus. The same way that you did. Someone told us.

Be that person. Be the one.

After the service, a friend picked up trash in the auditorium. Not because she had to. But because she was someone who would get that.

Have you ever thought that? When you don’t pick up something or put something back in it’s correct home, “Well, someone will get that.”

Be that person. Be the one.

I read a story about a young lady navigating her wheel chair through the clothing section in a store. She was having a bad day.

A small child walked up to her and with enthusiasm told her how lovely her hair was.

Be that person. Be the one.

Be the person who encourages another. Be the one who leaves the place better than what it was. Be the one who tells others about the love of Jesus.

Be that person.

Things Change

My retreat week has been quite uneventful. It’s been great. Very slow-moving. But things for others have changed. And sometimes it was quite quickly.

One man was doing his job – just as he had done for many years. But this day didn’t end like the others. He was struck by a vehicle and died.

I wonder about his wife. Did he kiss her goodbye that morning or because it was so early, did he let her sleep? Did they have lunch plans later that day or a vacation planned?

I wonder about the person who was driving the vehicle. What is he feeling?

People in California had to pack quickly and evacuate because of fires. What about their families, friends, pets, homes? Did they grab their pictures?

A person my age had a stroke. How has his life changed? A young person had a virus that landed him in the hospital for days. What has been going on in his mind?

Tim had minor surgery this week. Everything went as planned and we ended the day eating supper together and laughing. Other people received different news.

Oh, how do people do life without knowing that God is in control…that there is a plan and a purpose for pain? It’s hard sometimes even when we know that God is working. But there is comfort and peace that comes with that knowledge.

Peace isn’t the absence of pain or trouble or hurt. It is the very presence of Jesus in the midst of all that. Invite His presence into every area of your life. Every area – even the pain, the hurt, the doubts.

Oh, thank you, Lord. We don’t understand but, we trust in You. You are working – even when we don’t see it.